The District of Columbia and 38 states have implemented medical cannabis programs over the last 20+ years. We are also closing in on two-dozen states having given the green light to recreational marijuana. What is the difference, if there is any at all?
Marijuana advocates say there are perceived differences depending on how you look at recreational and medical programs. Most of the differences relate to the programs themselves rather than the products people are using. But there are some minor differences in the products as well.
If you are not sure of the many differences between recreational marijuana and medical cannabis, you’re in luck. Here are six of them for your consideration:
1. Cannabinoid Content
The first and most significant difference is composition. We use the terms ‘recreational marijuana’ and ‘medical cannabis’ for a reason. Marijuana is just that. It is a strain of cannabis with a high THC content. As for cannabis, it can be either marijuana or hemp. This is important to medical users.
Marijuana is high in THC while hemp is high in CBD. Both cannabinoids have medical applications. Just because someone is purchasing medical cannabis does it mean he is purchasing a marijuana product. It could be a hemp product instead.
2. Intended Use
The next difference lies in the purpose for using the substance. Recreational marijuana is utilized simply to get high. It is like drinking to get an alcohol buzz. Meanwhile, medical cannabis is intended to treat a specific medical condition like pain, PTSD, or nausea.
3. Intended Audience
Recreational marijuana is targeted to adults only. That is why some recreational marijuana advocates prefer the term ‘adult use marijuana’. Medical cannabis is legally available to adults in the thirty-eight states with such programs. Many of those states allow consumption by minors with special state approval and under the supervision of a physician.
4. Legal Status
In states that allow recreational marijuana, any adult can go into a dispensary and buy raw plant material or marijuana-derived products. However, medical cannabis cannot be legally purchased or consumed without a state medical cannabis card.
The operators of Salt Lake City’s Beehive Farmacy says that Utah is a medical-only state. Only those with a state issued medical cannabis card can purchase and use medical cannabis products containing THC.
5. Product Quality
The next difference is open to debate. However, states that allow both recreational marijuana and medical cannabis tend to have rules in place to ensure that medical products are of higher quality. Likewise, medical products allegedly have higher concentrations of THC and CBD.
This point is debatable because testing requirements are not necessarily stringent. Likewise for labeling and enforcement. Although a state could have rules in place to ensure better quality for medical products, there is no guarantee such rules are actually being followed.
6. Taxation and Regulation
Finally, recreational marijuana tends to be more loosely regulated but taxed at a higher rate. Recreational marijuana is often subject to both sales and excise taxes, ultimately adding to retail prices. But there are fewer quality control regulations in place.
Medical cannabis is subject to more regulation to ensure quality and safety. But in most states, it is either tax exempt or subject to much lower tax rates. Lawmakers do not want to make medical cannabis financially prohibitive.
We speak of both recreational marijuana and medical cannabis as separate entities because they are designed to be that way. Still, there does not seem to be a whole lot of reasons to continue an active medical program once a state crosses the line into recreational marijuana. Going recreational is cheaper and easier for patients.
